Images of opposites, an object lesson showing how water and oil don’t mix, and a quote by Joseph F. Smith. This is compared to 2 Corinthians 6:14 that says “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.”

Teach Me to Walk in the Light Podcast, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Devotionals, FHE, Family Home Evening, Gospel Teaching, Teaching the Savior's Way, Teaching No Greater Call, Come Follow Me, Gospel Doctrine, Lesson Helps, Primary, YW, Young Womens, Relief Society, Sacrament Talks, Inspirational, Motivational, www.melanieslibrary.com, be ye not unequally yoked together, abuse, evil, persecution, Joseph F. Smith

 

OPPOSITES

What do the following pairs have in common?

Teach Me to Walk in the Light Podcast, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Devotionals, FHE, Family Home Evening, Gospel Teaching, Teaching the Savior's Way, Teaching No Greater Call, Come Follow Me, Gospel Doctrine, Lesson Helps, Primary, YW, Young Womens, Relief Society, Sacrament Talks, Inspirational, Motivational, www.melanieslibrary.com, be ye not unequally yoked together, abuse, evil, persecution

Teach Me to Walk in the Light Podcast, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Devotionals, FHE, Family Home Evening, Gospel Teaching, Teaching the Savior's Way, Teaching No Greater Call, Come Follow Me, Gospel Doctrine, Lesson Helps, Primary, YW, Young Womens, Relief Society, Sacrament Talks, Inspirational, Motivational, www.melanieslibrary.com, be ye not unequally yoked together, abuse, evil, persecution

Teach Me to Walk in the Light Podcast, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Devotionals, FHE, Family Home Evening, Gospel Teaching, Teaching the Savior's Way, Teaching No Greater Call, Come Follow Me, Gospel Doctrine, Lesson Helps, Primary, YW, Young Womens, Relief Society, Sacrament Talks, Inspirational, Motivational, www.melanieslibrary.com, be ye not unequally yoked together, abuse, evil, persecution

Teach Me to Walk in the Light Podcast, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Devotionals, FHE, Family Home Evening, Gospel Teaching, Teaching the Savior's Way, Teaching No Greater Call, Come Follow Me, Gospel Doctrine, Lesson Helps, Primary, YW, Young Womens, Relief Society, Sacrament Talks, Inspirational, Motivational, www.melanieslibrary.com, be ye not unequally yoked together, abuse, evil, persecution

Teach Me to Walk in the Light Podcast, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Devotionals, FHE, Family Home Evening, Gospel Teaching, Teaching the Savior's Way, Teaching No Greater Call, Come Follow Me, Gospel Doctrine, Lesson Helps, Primary, YW, Young Womens, Relief Society, Sacrament Talks, Inspirational, Motivational, www.melanieslibrary.com, be ye not unequally yoked together, abuse, evil, persecution

All of these pairs are opposite. Can you name any others?

Another pair of opposites, or two things that just don’t go together, are oil and water. You can’t even mix them together.




 

OBJECT LESSON – WATER & OIL

Items Needed:

  • Bowl
  • 3-4 Small Containers
  • Food Coloring
  • Eye Dropper
  • Water
  • Cooking Oil

Instructions:

  • Fill the small containers with some water.
  • Put drops of food coloring in each small container (making each container a different color)
  • Fill your bowl with some cooking oil.
  • Using a dropper, put drops of your colored water into the bowl of oil.
  • Notice how the water and oil do not mix.  

 

LESSON LEARNED

In the scriptures, we learn of another pair of opposites that just don’t go together.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18:

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

This teaches us that we should not yoke ourselves together with unbelievers.

Does that mean we should not love those not of our faith? No. We should love all people. 

What’s important is that we do not yoke ourselves closely to those that can bring us down spiritually by persuading or influencing us to go down a wrong path. As the Strength of Youth pamphlet points out, it is important that we should have good friends who support us and share our same values:

Everyone needs good and true friends. They will be a great strength and blessing to you. They will influence how you think and act, and even help determine the person you will become. They will help you be a better person and will make it easier for you to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. Choose friends who share your values so you can strengthen and encourage each other in living high standards. (For the Strength of Youth, click HERE)

A great question to ask ourselves, as pointed out in the Come, Follow Me manual, is:

How can we follow Paul’s counsel to “come out from among [the unrighteous], and be ye separate” while also being good examples to those around us?

I believe President Joseph F. Smith set a good example of how to separate ourselves from unbelievers but still be a good example to them, as he continued to love his enemies and those who trespassed against him. 

Teach Me to Walk in the Light Podcast, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Devotionals, FHE, Family Home Evening, Gospel Teaching, Teaching the Savior's Way, Teaching No Greater Call, Come Follow Me, Gospel Doctrine, Lesson Helps, Primary, YW, Young Womens, Relief Society, Sacrament Talks, Inspirational, Motivational, www.melanieslibrary.com, be ye not unequally yoked together, abuse, evil, persecution, Joseph F. Smith“I do not love them so that I would take them into my bosom, or invite them to associate with my family, or that I would give my daughters to their embraces, nor my sons to their counsels. I do not love them so well that I would invite them to the councils of the Priesthood, and the ordinances of the House of God, to scoff and jeer at sacred things which they do not understand…but I love them so much that I would not hurt them, I would do them good, I would tell the truth about them, I would benefit them if it was in my power, and I would keep them to the utmost of my ability from doing harm to themselves and to their neighbors. I love them that much; but I do not love them with that affection with which I love my wife, my brother, my sister or my friend. There is a difference between the love we should bear towards our enemies and that we should bear towards our friends.

…we do not love to associate with our enemies, and I do not think the Lord requires us to do it…

We should keep ourselves aloof from the wicked; the dividing line should be distinctly drawn between God and Belial, between Christ and the world, between truth and error, and between right and wrong. We ought to cleave to the right, to the good, to the truth, and forsake the evil… What affinity can we have for them? Let them alone, let them go their own way. Help them to all the happiness that it is possible for them to obtain in this world; for it will be all that they will ever get, unless they repent of their sins, and forsake their wicked ways.”

(For full discourse, click HERE. Image is from churchofjesuschrist.org media library, click HERE)

 

Be sure and check out another great object lesson called Slow to Anger, it includes a powerful short story on the impact of words spoken in anger. Check it out by clicking HERE.

Don’t miss these great books available on Amazon! And for more church-related products at great prices, check out my Amazon Favorites page by clicking HERE.

 

This post was mentioned in Episode 22: Be Ye Not Unequally Yoked Together of the Teach Me to Walk in the Light Podcast. To listen, click HERE.

Yours Truly,

Melanie's Library

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